BICYCLE ILLINOIS
Arrival in Cairo

Arrival in Cairo
If you are meeting us in Cairo, please plan on arriving in time for the main check in and opening meeting.

We estimate that our transportation service from Carbondale to Cairo will arrive at the Cairo main lodging site at approximately 3:00 pm.

Unless you are getting dropped off in Cairo, you will need to take our transportation service from Carbondale to Cairo before the start of the tour because parking will not be available in Cairo.

If you are staying at the supported hotel you will need to bike over to the main lodging site in time for the main check in and opening meeting.

Click Here for more information about our transportation service from Carbondale to Cairo.

We will not offer any on road support services on Saturday. Our first day of supported cycling will be on Sunday.

Main Check In and Dinner
Dinner will be served directly at our main lodging site instead of at a restaurant because Cairo is the only town in which all our participants will be at the same place at the same time – for the main check in and opening meeting – and also means you won't have to bike to or from dinner.

The main check in will begin at 6:00 pm, and dinner will immediately follow the main check in (we'll set up the check-in table right before the dinner line).

Opening Meeting
About 15 to 20 minutes after dinner begins we will start our opening meeting as you're finishing dinner. This will allow you to focus more on the information in the meeting and not be hungry and worry about going to dinner afterwards.

The opening meeting should conclude around 7:30 pm, which will still give you plenty of daylight to set up your tent and sleeping bag or bike back over to the supported hotel and get ready for the ride the next day.

Click Here for more information about our main check in and opening meeting policies and procedures.

Time Frame in Cairo
To recap our plans on Saturday coming into and in Cairo:

1:00 pm

• Participants initially meeting us in Carbondale should meet us at the Amtrak station to load bikes and baggage onto our vehicles.

1:45 pm (approx.)

• Amtrak train from Chicago arrives in Carbondale
• All participants get on bus to Cairo
• Bus departs Carbondale for Cairo

3:00 pm (approx.)

• Bus arrives in Cairo at the main lodging site
• Participants who will be doing the Cairo bus tour can get off the bus, go to the bathroom, stretch your legs, etc. then need to reboard the bus
• Participants not doing the Cairo bus tour can set up their tent/sleeping bag, etc. or bike over to the supported hotel

3:30 pm

• Cairo bus tour departs the main lodging site

5:30 pm

• Cairo bus tour arrives back at the main lodging site

6:00 pm

• Main check-in and dinner

6:15 pm (approx.)

• Opening meeting begins

7:30 pm (approx.)

• Opening meeting ends

Limited Services in Cairo
There are a limited amount of services in Cairo so you will need to plan accordingly before you arrive at the start of the tour.

Click Here for the facilities and services in Cairo and our contingency plans for each limited service in Cairo.